Hewitt Homeschooling Review

Lightning Lit & Comp

American Literature: Early-Mid 19th Century

Recently I was given the opportunity to review this product and was very excited about it. Not only is it my first review, it was a great opportunity to have one full year of literature for my oldest bug.

We received the Lightning Lit & Comp Student Guide - $29.95, and the Lightning Lit & Comp Teacher Guide - $2.95.  There are four books required for this course. They were not  included but can be purchased or found at your local library. It recommends that you use unabridged copies of the following books:

                    * The Autobiography (Benjamin Franklin)

                    * Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass:

                                An American Slave Written by Himself (Frederick Douglass)

                    * The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne

                    * Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

These four books are listed in the order that they are read for the course.

Some of the shorter works included:

                    * "The Angler" by Washington Irving

                    * Poems by William C. Bryant

                    * "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar A. Poe

                    * Poems by Henry W. Longfellow

These short stories and poems were included in the student guide.

The STUDENT GUIDE is a 178 page softcover book that has eight lessons that are divided into different sections like this:

~~~Introduction

~~~The Selection

~~~While You Read

~~~Comprehension Questions

~~~Literary Lessons

~~~Writing Exercises

~~~Perspectives and Connections

~~~Appendix A, B, & C

The TEACHER GUIDE is 56 pages that are stapled together and have a three hole punch that can be used with a binder (not included). I love using binders! It has a table of contents with : introduction, grading tips, schedules, answers to comprehension questions, writing exercises and discussion questions. It explains each section in full detail.

What I thought about the course:

I really like the weekly lesson plans. We can look at the schedule and know exactly what to expect for that week. We have decided to do the full-year schedule along with our other language curriculum.

I like the fact that there wasn't a lot of prep time required on my part. My oldest bug was able to pretty much do it on her own. I would help her with any questions she might have and was able to correct anything with the teachers guide that she might have missed.

I felt that it covered the topics well. We will continue to use this for the rest of the school year and perhaps re-use it with the four other bugs when they become of age to do so. I would highly recommend this course to any student that loves to read!

To see other reviews, go to schoolhouse review crew.

The entire package can be purchased from Hewitt Homeschool:

Lightning Literature and Composition Pack American: Early to Mid 19th Century

Disclaimer: As a member of the schoolhouse review crew. I received this product, free of charge, in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions stated are my own and those of my family.